“What we need to take from this convention is the enthusiasm to talk to our friends and neighbors like we did in 1972, when I was on the ballot for the first time,” Hutchison said in a speech to Texas' 304 delegates. “We've got to go out door to door and person to person to take this country back.”

Nearing the end of her political career that began with that 1972 election to the Texas House, Hutchison is preparing to enter private life. But first, she'll be hitting the campaign trail.

Hutchison said she would be supporting Republican candidates, including Ted Cruz, who is running to succeed her in the U.S. Senate.

The three-term senator delivered her comments to a cheering crowd of Texas delegates, many clad in cream cowboy hats and red, white and blue apparel.

With Tropical Storm Isaac making its way into the Gulf of Mexico, RNC officials have pared down some events and canceled today's proceedings. Some delegates were straggling in late Sunday, having made it to Tampa after navigating delayed and canceled flights.

But most said the storm wasn't dampening their enthusiasm.

“It's no big deal to us,” said Sharon Dale, a first-time delegate from Fort Worth, who noted that the Lone Star State attendees were used to storms.

Hutchison stressed that the storm shouldn't shift the focus away from Mitt Romney's candidacy or pressing national issues, including the debt and government spending.

“This hurricane is not going to get us down,” she said. “We've got a fight on our hands.”

Hutchison cast the presidential election as a chance to change the course of the nation and restrain spending.

“This campaign has sunk to new lows, and that is saying a lot in our political system,” she said.

“But it is a fact that when you don't have something to talk about in your own record, all you can do is forcefully attack your opponent.”

Many of Texas' delegates are at the nominating festivities for the first time — a contrast to some other states where deeply entrenched regulars are veterans of the event.

David Watrous, a first-time delegate from Highland Village, said he wanted to see convention speakers focus on two top concerns: the economy and health care. Watrous said he is concerned that the new health care law is crippling small businesses.

“You don't want to hinder those small and medium-sized business as they grow,” he said. “The economy is really dependent on small businesses.”